About the Project

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How will the towns achieve high-speed fiber broadband?

Using a competitive process and with the support of experts, the towns have selected Direct Communications, owner of UniTel, as an internet service provider (ISP) partner to bring high-speed fiber broadband to the towns. UniTel has been providing telecommunications services in Waldo County since 1902. Direct Communications is an Idaho-based fiber ISP that expanded to Maine in 2022 and has already expanded UniTel’s existing network to more municipalities in Waldo County through successful grant-funded public-private partnerships.

With a successful grant award, Direct Communications plans to construct, own, and operate a fiber network consisting of 925,000 feet or 175 miles of fiber optic cable spanning the four towns to provide service to all unserved and not connected locations, with a total estimated value of $10 million. If the project is awarded by the MCA, Direct Communications would begin designing and constructing the network, and anticipates completing the network within two years.

Learn more about Direct Communications here.

What is the grant that is needed to fund this project?

The Maine Connectivity Authority was established by the Legislature in 2021 as a quasi-governmental agency funded through a combination of federal and state resources, and is charged with achieving the universal access of affordable high-speed broadband in Maine. MCA funding is available to bring broadband to unserved and not connected locations through the Connect the Ready grant program. Using state American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the MCA has already administered one round of broadband infrastructure funding through this competitive program, awarding more than $40 million to 14 projects covering 33 communities across the state in early 2023. One of these  awards was more than $3 million for a public-private partnership between Direct Communications and the towns of Brooks and Waldo to bring high-speed fiber broadband to those towns.

A second and likely final round of Connect the Ready grant funding will open in August 2023, and Direct Communications will apply in partnership with the towns. It is estimated that a Connect the Ready grant could fund 73% of the project, Direct Communications would fund 22%, and the towns would fund 5% ($500,000). The towns will apportion their funding match based on the fiber network and unserved locations in each town. To date, Frankfort, Stockton Springs, and Winterport have allocated municipal ARPA funds and therefore will not raise property taxes to fund the project. 

Because of the rural nature of the towns, broadband service is not viable without grant funding. If the Connect the Ready application is not funded, the towns will continue exploring future grant opportunities to achieve affordable high-speed internet access for all residents.

What are the details of the project?

Grant funds prioritize bringing service to unserved and not connected locations. Unserved and not connected locations would have access to the network under “Phase 1” for a $99 connection fee, which would be waived with a two-year service contract.  Additional locations within two thousand feet of the grant-funded network to reach “Phase 1” locations would have access to the network for a $500 connection fee, also waived with a two-year service contract. Following completion of the grant-funded network, Direct Communications would consider expanding to any areas within the towns where no unserved or not connected locations exist on a case-by-case basis.

Direct Communications would immediately commence detailed design, engineering, and construction upon grant award. Construction is estimated to take about two years.

Direct Communications would offer all residential customers at least four monthly options:

  • 100 Mbps down/100 Mbps up for $39.95/month

  • 250 Mbps/250 Mbps for $59.95/month

  • 500 Mbps/500 Mbps for $79.95/month

  • 1,000Mbps/1,000Mbps for $109.95/month. 

Additional commercial plans would be available as well.

What are “unserved” and “not connected” locations?

An “unserved” location is defined by the Maine Connectivity Authority as a location without access to internet service of at least 100 megabits per second download and 20 megabits per second upload.

A “not connected” location is defined by the Maine Connectivity Authority as a location without access to internet service of at least 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second upload.